Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1887-03-05

Ustsusns' meeting.
A large number Of citizens met last
evening In the Harkneas Building "a
further consult over needed legislation
to preserve the purity OF elections and
|othsr business which misht inotdeu u. y
bs broushs before the tneeting. Among
those pTesent wore William Fl. swift,
who acted ~ president, L. O. vande.
sriit, Esq., DR.. Draper, A. @. Wilson,
d. orc. Kenaey, William H. Quinn,
David Lemon, Samuel Cooling, Samuel
Murphey, Washington Hastings, VIM.
Lawion, JOHN T. Davis, Joseph L. Oar
peptur, Jr and n. N. Buck.
Mr.. Vandoerift. attorney Of the citi,
Gems committee, read before the meet.
ing Q lengthy bill, which he had pre-.
pared, regulating the holding OF cleo.
tiuns. The bill provided also for .
sy stem Of registry, the election officers
70 be the board OF registration, the
registration to be posted where every
body could see II, aud required the pay.
ment OF q city tax before the PAL Is
registered could vote Ut o munici pal
election. The bill provided for the dis.
tric,ing Of the city into small election
precincts, the largest 10 contain no,
more than 200 votes and the smallest
not less than 70.
Whenever . precinct reached 200
votes It was to be divided again. The
whole plan was TO be under the man.
asement OF . CONAN ission Of three, not
All to be of the same political party,
the c0mm issiousrs 10 have . salary
Of $500 the first year and thefeeftsr e200
o year.
Mr.. ndegrift said be had no m O
ton TO make to adopt the bill but he
desir ed TO have full informal tiscus.
sicn OF its merits.
DIR. James A. Draper spoke frat, and
said he thought that there existed o
great need OF reform In the manner OF
holding elections, but In his opinion he
thought the regi,tration ought TO apply
to the city more than TO the hundred
elections.
Mr.. A. G. Wilson seemed to think
that the greatest evll OF the present eye.
ten was in not being able To get fair
count. II those y ho nave had the cleo
tions in hand had done their duty there
would have been no occasion for the or.
ganizstion Of this citixenl' committee.
l. q. Vandegrift, Esq., said the bill
read was not intended to contain every.
thing needed, and 1t can be amended to
include the appointment OF commits
sion fer the purpose OF counting the
votes
William Lawton said he thought Mr..
Vandegrift's sugat stion . good one. and
he suggested that the commission
tbould consist Of six men. they to be
appointed by the resident Judge OF the
county.
william H. Quinn saw the great
need of reform In holding elections and
hoped come law would be passed to
punish fraud. He hsd been 1t the polls
when every thing was going on as he
thought oil right. but In few minutes
the whole thing would bo changed. On
one occasion he went to . polling place
" here but SO votes had been polled,
but when be came around again In less
than twenty minutes there were over
400 ballots in the box.
Washington HAstings said be was In
entire sympathy with the movement.
He thought the plan Of registration " wAs
a good one on general principles. but
the present scheme proposed woulu
need considerable piunipg down. Tho
need Of reform he thought WAS very
pressing. There has been 80 much ras-
|oality practiced that II there is not o
change made soon honest voters will
never get their rights. The idea Of q
|commission appointed either by the
resident Judge or by the Legislature
would, he thought, be favorAbly re
ceived by the people.
Mr.. L DeVou thought the merely
nominal sum OF fifty cents should be
required as q registration zee. With this
hs strongly favored the bill.
Mr. David Lemon WAS also In favor
| of election reform and strongly con
demned irand.
On motion Of Mr.. vandeprift, the
, whole matter WAS referled back to the
comm ittee for revision, their report tt
DO made at a future meeting. The com
mittee consists OF DIR. j. A. Draper
George w. Bush, Andrew g. Wilson
George 8 Capelle and Joseph l. Car
penter, Jr.
Mr.. Vandegrift then called attention
to the Street and Sewer Commission
bill adopted at q previous meeting, ai
the committee thought that SON miDol
changes were needed. He stated tha
as the bill WAS originally drawn 1t wa
TO 60 into effect April l, when ht
thought it ought to be July l.
| Oa motion this alteration was made
and the bill was also amended to maxi
$65, 900 the limit to be asked for for tn,
year 1887 8, and thereafter to be In
creased q per cent.
On motion OF Andrew G. Wilson
two committees were appointed to wal
on Representative Ware and Senator
McWhorter respectively, and explain
10 them the wishes of the citizens
loommittee, and lbe provisions OF thu
bile TO be presented to the General As
,embly. The one TO wait on MI. War
is composed Of Sam uel Coolirg, Fran
els N. Buck and Lewis U. Vandegrift
Esq.; oh Senator McWhorter, j. Park,
po.tles, ID. O'O. Kenny and Samue
Murphey.
| The meeting then adjourned to NEE
at tho call OF the committee.